Dentistry Unmasked: A Roundtable Podcast

Every "yes" comes with a cost. But sometimes, so does "no." This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam wraps up her candid conversation with Irene Iancu by exploring one of the most difficult realities of building a public career in dentistry: knowing when to walk away.  From declining lucrative contracts and speaking engagements to ending partnerships and losing income, Irene shares why protecting your reputation sometimes means making decisions that don't make financial sense in the short term. Together, they discuss the challenges of setting boundaries, handling criticism, being labeled "difficult," and staying true to your values in an industry where relationships and visibility often influence opportunity.  Whether you're building a personal brand, speaking on the lecture circuit, creating content, or simply navigating your professional career, this episode is a reminder that credibility is earned over years, but can be lost in a single decision.  Success isn't measured by every opportunity you accept; it's often defined by the ones you're willing to decline.

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Brian and Pam sit down with Grace Rizza, CEO of Identity Dental Marketing to talk about why effective marketing starts long before you build a website, post on social media, or launch an ad campaign. It starts with understanding who you are as a clinician, what your practice stands for, and the patients you actually want to serve. Grace explains why your mission should be reflected throughout your brand and marketing, where DIY marketing can work (and fall short), and how the right marketing team can help turn your vision into a consistent message. The conversation also tackles some of the most common and costly marketing mistakes dentists make. If your marketing feels generic, inconsistent, or simply isn’t bringing the results you expected, this episode may help you figure out why. Before you spend more on marketing, make sure your marketing actually represents you.

Posting on social media is easy. Understanding what you're signing isn't. This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam continues her conversation with Irene Iancu, diving into the business side of social media and the contracts that come with content creation and brand partnerships.Not all collaborations are created equal. Irene breaks down the critical differences between being a content creator, an influencer, an educator, and a key opinion leader (KOL) and why each role requires different expectations, deliverables, and contract language. From ownership of your photos and videos to usage rights, exclusivity, licensing, and compensation, she explains the clauses every dental professional should understand before saying "yes" to a partnership. Whether you're creating your first sponsored post or building a personal brand online, this episode will help you recognize your value, ask the right questions, and protect your content before you hit "sign." If social media is part of your career, or you want it to be, don't miss this eye-opening conversation!

What does it really mean to become "known" in dentistry? Most of us see the highlight reel: the standing ovations, keynote presentations, podcasts, brand partnerships, social media, and travel. But what happens behind the scenes once your name becomes your brand? This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Pam sits down with Irene Iancu for an unfiltered conversation about building a public career in dentistry. From landing those first speaking opportunities to navigating conference politics, industry relationships, and the ever-evolving roles of educator, influencer, creator, and key opinion leader, Irene shares the realities that few people talk about. They also explore the pressure to always say "yes," how opportunities are really created, what companies are looking for, and the responsibility that comes with having a public voice. Whether you're dreaming of speaking, creating content, partnering with industry, or simply curious about what happens behind the curtain, this episode offers an honest look at the rewards, the challenges, and everything in between. If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to build a career beyond the operatory, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.

Thirty-five years into dentistry, Dr. Abdi Sameni isn’t thinking much about slowing down. He’s still asking what he can learn next.
Sameni joins Drs. Pam Maragliano and Brian Nový for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens when dentists remain students of their profession. They explore why some of the most interesting dental education is happening outside the usual circles, how communities such as bioemulation connect clinicians around the world, and why mentorship can change the trajectory of a career.
But the conversation also gets clinical: Is biomimetic dentistry always the right answer? Are dentists intervening too late—or sometimes doing too much? Sameni makes the case for respecting the tooth at every stage of life, detecting disease before conventional treatment becomes necessary, and choosing treatment for the patient in front of you rather than following a clinical ideology.
Plus: why a Class II composite can still be worth traveling to learn, the surprisingly important problem of orthodontic retention, and what keeps dentistry interesting after decades in practice.

Dentists may be attractive borrowers to banks—but that doesn't necessarily mean they're borrowing money wisely.
In this episode of Dentistry Unmasked, Drs. Pam Maragliano and Brian Nový talk with Daniel Gurfinkel of Gurfinkel & Partners about practice debt, credit, cash flow, and how dentists can approach financing more strategically.
Brian shares his own experience seeking operating capital and discovering that the way he had structured his borrowing and credit wasn't necessarily taking full advantage of the options available to him. Gurfinkel, who describes his firm as a medical funding consultancy rather than a lender or broker, explains why practice owners often default to the easiest source of capital—which can also be among the most expensive.
The conversation gets into refinancing high-interest debt, separating personal and business credit, and why understanding how banks evaluate dental practices can change the financing options available to practice owners. Gurfinkel also discusses promotional 0% financing strategies, their limitations, and why dentists need a repayment plan before relying on short-term capital.
Pam and Brian also explore some less obvious factors that may affect a dentist's borrowing position, including the health of a credit profile and whether everyday business spending is actually helping establish business credit.
 
In this episode:
Why the easiest source of capital may not be the cheapest
 
How high-interest debt can erode dental practice cash flow
 
Why lenders may view dentists differently from other business owners
 
The relationship between personal credit and practice financing
 
What dentists should understand about 0% promotional financing
 
Why short-term financing requires a clear repayment strategy
 
How business credit can differ from personal credit
 
Questions dentists should ask before taking on additional debt
 
Financial strategies discussed in this episode may not be appropriate for every practice or individual. Consider consulting qualified financial, tax, and lending professionals before making borrowing or refinancing decisions.

Patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face significant barriers to dental care—from finding providers with appropriate training to transportation, cost, communication challenges, and previous negative experiences in health-care settings.
In this episode of Dentistry Unmasked, Drs. Pam Maragliano and Brian Nový talk with Dr. Dimitri Christakis, Chief Health Officer for Special Olympics International, about what dentistry can do differently.
Christakis shares what Special Olympics has learned through its Special Smiles program, which provides oral health screenings and referrals for athletes with IDD. Among Special Olympics athletes, 13% report significant mouth pain, 46% show signs of gum disease, and 44% have untreated tooth decay.
The conversation explores why access remains difficult, including limited provider training and reimbursement models that don't account for the additional time some patients may need. They also discuss relatively simple ways practices can become more welcoming—from asking patients about their anxieties and individual needs to reducing unnecessary sensory stimulation and creating quieter, less intimidating environments.
Plus, Brian reflects on his own experience volunteering with Special Smiles and challenges dentists, dental teams, and pre-dental students to consider getting involved. Special Olympics provides training for volunteers, so clinicians don't need to arrive already experienced in caring for patients with IDD.
In this episode:
Why patients with IDD continue to face major oral health disparities
The provider and patient barriers that can make dental care difficult to access
What Special Olympics' Special Smiles screenings accomplish
How preventive care and earlier referrals can reduce downstream health costs
Practical ways to make a dental practice more inclusive and less intimidating
How dentists and dental professionals can gain experience caring for patients with IDD
Why inclusive practice changes may benefit anxious and fearful patients as well
 

Are insurance plans still bringing value to your practice, or are they quietly costing you money? This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Brian and Pam sit down with Dennis Marvel to discuss why more dentists are reevaluating their participation in PPO insurance plans. As reimbursements fail to keep pace with rising overhead and the cost of delivering quality care, what may have once been an effective patient acquisition strategy can eventually become a financial burden. But dropping insurance isn’t automatically the right answer. Dennis explains how to determine when leaving a plan makes financial sense, when it could be a costly mistake, and what practices should evaluate before making the decision. He also shares strategies for transitioning out of insurance plans thoughtfully, without creating panic among patients or watching your schedule disappear. If you’ve ever wondered whether your insurance contracts are helping or hurting your practice, this episode will give you plenty to think about before you make your next move.

This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Brian and Pam sit down with Dr. Rick Huot to talk about something every dentist needs, but too many put off: financial planning with a purpose. Whether you’re a new graduate navigating debt, a mid-career dentist building wealth, a practice owner planning your next move, or thinking seriously about retirement, your financial goals should evolve along with your career. Dr. Huot breaks down how to set realistic goals, make smarter financial decisions, and create a plan that keeps you moving toward the life you actually want. No matter where you are in your career, it’s never too early or too late to get intentional about your financial future.

What does it really take to lead a dental school and how much influence does a dean have on the future of the profession? This week on Dentistry Unmasked, Brian and Pam sit down with Dr. Gerry Kugel, dean of the University of Nebraska’s dental school, for a candid conversation about leadership, faculty, educational standards, and what it takes to truly prepare students for clinical practice. Dr. Kugel shares his philosophy on building a strong academic team, setting expectations for both faculty and students, and ensuring graduates are ready for the realities of dentistry beyond the classroom. Whether you’re considering dental school, exploring a career in academics, or simply curious about how the next generation of dentists is being trained, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.